We’ll Protect Civilians During Operations – Air Chief Assures Nigerians

Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, the Chief of the Air Staff, has promised that the Nigerian Air Force will put civilian safety first and prevent collateral damage while conducting operations.

During his first meeting with Branch Chiefs, Air Officers Commanding, and other senior officers at NAF Headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, Aneke made the pledge.

He added that the service will prioritize operational effectiveness, safety, and professionalism and that the decision is in line with President Bola Tinubu’s expectations for the military.

“To eradicate terrorism, eliminate threats, and deny safe haven to all adversaries of our nation, we will continue to work closely with sister services and other security agencies,” he declared.

He claims that by interacting with communities and making sure that missions are people-focused, the Air Force will improve civil-military relations.

“Preventing collateral damage and protecting civilian lives will continue to be a defining hallmark of our professionalism and operational discipline,” he continued.

According to Aneke, the strategic meeting would evaluate the force’s present position, pinpoint any weaknesses, and examine ways to improve efficacy.

The Air Chief also promised to follow the president’s orders to the letter, saying that operations and safety would be at the center of all leadership decisions.

“The aspirations of millions of Nigerians rest, in part, on what we do here—on how effectively we carry out our duties and safeguard the territorial integrity of our country,” he stated.

“Let me be clear: we won’t let them down. Ladies and gentlemen, we shall carry out Mr. President’s explicit and unambiguous instructions to the letter.

There won’t be any uncertainty in our stance. Now is the time to take action, and we will succeed.

Declaring the meeting open, the Air Chief thanked the President for his confidence.

Due to unintentional bombings that resulted in civilian casualties during counterterrorism operations, the Nigerian Air Force has been under public attention in recent years.

Leaders in the community and civil society organizations called for increased operational precision and accountability as a result of these instances.

A change toward precision-led and community-sensitive air operations was indicated by Aneke’s comments.